Thomas ralph douse



2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

T.R.DOUSE. ELBGTRIGAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Patented July 2, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2..

T. R, DOUSE. ELECTRICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

No. 406,341. Patented JulyZ, 1889..

v71" 6,42 Jmzghr M Iamrlflowa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS RALPH DOUSE, OF OHATHAM, COUNTY OF KENT, ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL FIRE-E XTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,341, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed December 19, 1888. Serial No. 294,074. (No model.) Patented in England August 9, 1888, No. 11,514.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS RALPH DOUSE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 28 Clover street, Chatham, Kent County, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 11,514, bearing date August 9,

1888,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of fireextinguishers wherein an alkali-containing vessel is provided internally with an acidbottle, to be broken so that the acid and alkali mix and generate a fire-extinguishing gas that issues from the alkali-vessel by a nozzle or distributer.

The object of my invention is to avoid the employment of a movable striker or hammer, as ordinarily used for breaking the bottle, and to provide novel means for fracturing the bottle through the medium of an electric current and a detonator.

To such end my invention consists in the novel combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings exhibiting my invention, in which- Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of the alkali-vessel, showing the acid-bottle and the detonator; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the acid-bottle; Fig. 3, a detail bottom plan view of the screw-cap of the alkali-vessel; Fig. 4, a side view of one of the gas-distributers or nozzles; Fig. 5,'a sectional view of the same; and Fig. 6, a diagram illustrating the invention with the electric circuit and battery.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwill now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The letter A indicates the alkalieontaining vessel or tank suspended by the lugs b from a beam 0, or it may hang from the ceiling of a room in a dwelling-house, warehouse, or store. The vessel or tank A is provided at about its central upper part with a screwaperture for the reception of a cap G, (shown a detonator or explosive plug f is arranged,-

this being suspended by conducting-wires g g, by which, when the electric circuit is closed in any well-known manner, the force of .the explosion causes the tube e and also the acid bottle B to be broken and the acid to fall into and mix with the alkali in the tank A for creating or generating a powerful fire-subduing gas. The gas thus formed escapes along with a portion of the liquid by the bent pipes D D, and issues in jet or spray-like form from the perforations of distributers or nozzles, (see Figs. 4: and 5,) said nozzles E being on the exposed ends of the pipes D D for the distribution of the fire-extinguishing gas.

I surround the acid-bottle B by a wiregauze net 71, which is connected to the cap G, so that the fragments of the bottle can be readily collected and a fresh bottle placed in the prongs of the clip d after recharging the tank with an alkali liquid to set the apparatus ready for use.

One apparatus would be sufficient for an ordinary-sized room; but for such as a warehouse or store and large floors several of such apparatus may be fitted and be simultaneously discharged on the closing of the electric circuit by the pushing in of abutton, the arrangement of which with three floors will be understood by the diagram, Fig.6, where a battery and electric circuit are exhibited.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In an electrical fire-extinguisher, the combination of an alkali-containing vessel A, having tubes D projecting therefrom and provided on their exposed ends with spraynozzles E, a screw-cap G, inserted in the upper part; of said vessel and provided with a clip (l, an acid-containing bottle suspended from the clip (1 Within said vessel, in tube 6, OX- tending into and sealing the bottle, a detonator f, placed in said tube, and an electric circuit including the detonator, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing \vit- 1o nesses, this 28th day of September, 1888.

THOMAS RALPH DO'USE.

W'itn csses:

RICHARD CORE GARDNER, 166 Fleel Street, Lemlon, England.

(cums. A. BLOOWFIELD, No'lm'ys C lerlr, 11!) Change Alley, Lmulrm. 

